Get file list in Files app
I would like to either print, or save to a file, a list of all files in a folder, preferably In alphabetical order. Is there a way of doing this in iPadOS 16.6?
iPad Air (4th generation)
Question marked as
Unfortunately, the native Files App has no facility to export a list of directory files or folders. At present, the only method by which to create a list requires many manual steps... using a screenshot as an intermediate step to a longer workflow...:
1) As already outlined by sberman, begin with selecting a List View for the Files App.
2) Navigate to the folder/directory of interest.
3) Take a screenshot: Take a screenshot on your iPad - Apple Support
4) Having taken the screenshot, from the screenshot view, tap the Live Text button:
5) Select the detected text fields by swiping with your finger down through the list of file/folder names; from the actions that will appear, tap Copy. Your list will be copied to the clipboard.
6) Open a document type (App) most appropriate for your list - such as Notes, Pages or Numbers. In this document, touch-and-hold to open an action-menu; select Paste; the clipboard, with your list, will be pasted to the document.
7) Format the document as required - and then print your captured file list.
While the described workflow will (with some manual effort) produce the output that you require, it is admittedly sub-optimal.
Apple does invite submission of feature requests via its Product Feedback portal - for iPad and iPadOS:
If you would like to see additional features and capabilities in a future version of iPadOS, this would be the most appropriate channel through which to make a request.
I hope this workflow will provide a usable, albeit less than ideal, workaround for existing limitations of iPadOS.
